GB2219675A

GB2219675A - Generating computer readable codes

Info

Publication number: GB2219675A
Application number: GB8813639A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin John Trivett
Original assignee: TIPDATA Ltd
Current assignee: TIPDATA Ltd
Priority date: 1988-06-09
Filing date: 1988-06-09
Publication date: 1989-12-13
Also published as: GB8813639D0

Abstract

Computer readable codes are generated in response to user defined codes by displaying or placing a chart 10 onto a touch sensitive surface 4 and assigning each of the user defined codes to different locations on the chart. The user defined codes are recorded on the chart at their assigned locations, the computer readable codes being retrieved from a diskette in response to touching the location on the chart of the corresponding user defined code. <IMAGE>

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING COMPUTER READABLE CODES This invention relates to methods and apparatus for generating computer readable codes.

The entry of information in computer applications, and the designation of computer functions is conventionally achieved by means of a visual display unit and a keyboard. Such a system requires the operator to be familiar with the coding system which enables a specific computer function to be executed, or which enables specific data to be retrieved from the main computer memory.

Such systems have the disadvantage that the computer codes are difficult to remember. particularly where a considerable quantity of data and different computer functions are involved. In such cases, reference books are needed so that the computer operator can determine the appropriate computer code which can be understood by the computer in order to execute the desired function and retrieve the desired data.

This kind of system tends to be cumbersome and time consuming.

Such a system may be used in the retail or wholesale trade in which, for example, the sales department may instruct dispatch of articles via a computer system. In this case, the operator in the sales department would key into the computer the computer readable code corresponding to the articles to be dispatched. The appropriate computer readable code is determined from a reference manual which can be understood by the operator.

Clearly. keying in of the wrong code will lead to the serious problem of an incorrect article being dispatched.

Other methods are known in the art for entering information into a computer. and for correlating that information with particular data. For example, numbers on banking cheques are used to correlate the cheque with a particular account. or as is now becoming increasingly common in the retail trade. bar code readers read a bar code imprinted on an article in order to correlate the article with the price and name of the article stored in the computer memory.

All these systems have the disadvantage that the computer reader is only capable of reading a specially constructed code. which is not understandable by a human operator.

It is an aim of the present invention to simplify the act of instructing a computer to execute a particular function or to retrieve desired data.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which enables an operator to determine his own coding system for instructing the computer to perform desired functions and to retrieve desired data.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user. the method comprising displaying or placing a chart onto a touch sensitive surface, assigning each of the user defined codes to different locations on the chart, recording the user defined codes on the chart at their assigned locations, recording the computer readable codes, and associating respective computer readable codes with respective different locations on the chart, so that respective locations represent an address for respective computer readable codes which correspond to the user defined codes of the chart, wherein computer readable codes can be generated by touching the location on the chart of the corresponding user defined codes.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user, the method comprising displaying or placing a chart onto a touch sensitive surface, touching one or more locations on the chart which correspond to desired user defined code(s) thereby to address the user defined code(s), wherein each of the user defined codes are assigned to predetermined different locations on the chart and the touching of a desired location on the chart gives rise to a signal indicative of the desired location, and producing from a memory a predetermined computer readable code which corresponds to the desired user defined code in response to the signal.

According to the present invention, there is further provided an apparatus for generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user, the apparatus comprising a chart for display or location onto a touch sensitive surface and having the user defined codes recorded at assigned locations thereon, and memory means for recording the computer readable codes, wherein the respective computer readable codes are recorded at different locations within the memory means which correspond to respective assigned locations of the chart, so that when the location of a desired user defined code on the chart is touched, a signal corresponding to that location is generated by the electromagnetic touch sensitive surface and supplied to the memory means which generates the corresponding computer readable code in response thereto.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a chart having user defined codes thereon for use in a method or apparatus as defined hereinabove.

Registration means may be provided for establishing the orientation and location of the chart on the surface with respect to the location of points subsequently identified by the touching. The registration means is preferably in the form of three locating points positioned on the chart which are sequentially touched.

Touching of these three points defines a coordinate system which is used to define the positions of subsequent points touched on the chart. Subsequently touching points on the chart gives rise to the production of the signal which represents the coordinates of the subsequent points relative to the three locating points.

The user readable codes. corresponding to the user defined codes, may be defined by the number and sequence of touched locations on the chart.

The user defined codes may be a description of the item or function, in linguistic or diagramatic form.

The touch sensitive surface may be a cathode ray tube onto which the chart is displayed.

Alternatively, the touch sensitive surface may be an electromagnetic or pressure sensitive pad, and may have a pen or stylus associated therewith. Desired locations can be touched with the pen or stylus so as to give rise to production of the signal.

The chart may be a form onto which the user defined codes are hand written.

The apparatus may be provided with a monitor screen for displaying information associated with the user defined codes and the corresponding computer readable codes.

The user defined codes may include commands for the computer, or may be data addresses for retrieving and displaying data from the computer memory.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that they enable the user to construct his or her own codes, which are recorded on the chart, whereby the user can subsequently gain access to the computer functions or stored data by touching appropriate locations of the form designating the required function or data.

Embodiments of the invention therefore perform the function of converting the user understandable codes into computer readable codes.

Embodiments of the present invention may be arranged so that the chart may be modified or updated according to requirements. Entry of fresh data can be performed by specifying the desired location onto which the user defined code is to be recorded, and keying in the predetermined computer readable code into the computer via a keyboard.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an apparatus set up to perform the method of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 illustrates a chart which may be used in embodiments of the invention.

In Figure 1, a monochrome or colour monitor 1 is shown connected to a controller and diskette unit (CDU) 2.

The CDU 2 is coupled to an electromagnetic sensitive pad and alpha numeric keypad via a connecting lead 6. The electromagnetic sensitive pad 4 is provided with a stylus 8 which can be used to touch and mark a form 10 positioned on the electromagnetic sensitive pad 4.

The CDU 2 can receive a diskette 12 as illustrated in Figure 2. The diskette 12 contains a memory for storing computer readable codes which can be read by the CDU 2 and be transmitted to a host computer via the communications line 14; these codes, and other associated information from the host computer, may be displayed on the monitor 1.

When the disk 12 is inserted into the CDU 2, the CDU is operative for receiving data from the electromagnetic sensitive pad 4 and the alpha numeric keypad.

The CDU 2 is provided with an on/off switch positioned as illustrated in Figure 1.

The diskette 12 contains data which corresponds to the location of information on the form 10. When the stylus 8 is pressed against a location on the form 10, a corresponding coordinate signal is generated by the electromagnetic sensitive pad 4 and fed to the CDU 2 via the cable 6. The CDU 2 then generates in response to this position information a code readable by the host computer, this code being retrieved from the diskette 12 and being transmitted to the host computer.

A separate diskette may be used to programme the CDU 2 with the necessary instructions to form the correlation of positional information received via the lead 6 to the appropriate computer readable codes. Separate diskettes may be used for different types of information recorded on different forms, and for generating corresponding computer readable codes.

Figure 3 illustrates a particular example of form which can be used in a system for instructing dispatch of office furniture.

On the left hand side of the form, there is a list of command functions.

When the form 10 is initially positioned on the touch pad 4, the orientation of the form 10 is established by touching the points T1, T2 and T3 with the stylus 8.

This defines a coordinate system, thereby enabling the relative locations of subsequent points on the form 10 to be coded in the form of a signal to be transmitted to the CDU 2.

Once the coordinate system has been established, the form may be removed and subsequently repositioned onto the touch pad 4. A coordinate system can be re-established simply by pressing the stylus 8 against the command box labelled "target|. After the target box is touched, the points Tl, T2 and T3 can be touched thereby redefining the coordinate system.

By touching the list command box, the CDU 2 may be instructed to display on the monitor 1 a list of the possible types of form available. The maintain function box may be used for instructing the CDU 2 that the user wishes to create, amend or delete form details. The $backup0 command box is provided for instructing the CDU 2 to copy the information on a form from one diskette to another. The copy command box may be used to duplicate a form on the same diskette.

The "enter" function box is equivalent to a carriage return key, and the "select" function is for selecting the form required from the list.

After the required form has been selected from the list, the apparatus will require the user to touch the targets T1, T2 and T3 in order to ensure alignment of the form on the touch pad 4 and to define the coordinate system.

The form 10 illustrated in Figure 3 shows one which has been previously programmed onto a diskette 12. In this case, the user initially arranged possible options of office furniture within particular boxes of a possible two hundred boxes contained in the form 10. The user has the option of setting out the information in any desired way. The user will initially have a reference book which indicates the appropriate computer readable code for a given stock item of office furniture.

In this example, the office furniture available consists of four basic possibilities, a desk, a desk with leather inset, a Board Room table or a filing cabinet. In this case the user designates the first box by specifying the box number as shown on the form, using the CDU keyboard (B). The user then writes the word "desk" in the box and keys into the CDU keyboard the corresponding computer readable code from the reference manual.

In response to this action, the relative location of the first box to the points T1, T2 and T3 is supplied to the CDU 2. The CDU 2 then correlates the position coordinate of the first or "desk" box with the corresponding computer readable code previously keyed into the keyboard. so that when the "desk" box is subsequently touched by the stylus 8, the system automatically generates the appropriate computer readable code for the desk.

Subsequent boxes can be labelled as indicated, in this case to designate variations of the four fundamental types of office furniture available. Once the computer readable codes have beeh initially programmed into the CDU 2, and recorded on the diskette 12, the user can then gain access to the computer in order to order stock items of office furniture without reference to the manual.

If the user wishes to order, for example, an oak double pedestal desk having a dimension of 2 metres by 1 metre, the user first touches the "desk" box followed by the "double pedestal" box followed by the "oak" box and so on. When the possible combinations are complete, the user then presses the "enter" box, thereby designating the end of the user defined code.

The pad 4 then sends coordinate signals for the user defined code to the CDU 2. The CDU 2 then retrieves the computer readable code from locations in the CDU 2 memory which correspond to the coordinate signals.

As can be seen from the operation of this particular embodiment, a particular computer readable code which addresses a stock item, can be formed without the user needing to refer to reference manuals. In addition, the generation of the code is simplified since it is generated according to the number and sequence of boxes touched on the form 10.

The skilled man in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In particular, instead of an electromagnetic sensitive pad 4, a touch sensitive VDU screen may be used to display the form 10. Alternatively, a pressure sensitive pad could be used.

Furthermore, instead of the present device communicating with a separate host computer along the communications line 14, the CDU 2 and the host computer could be encompassed into a single device.

Claims

1. A method of generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user, the method comprising displaying or placing a chart onto a touch sensitive surface, assigning each of the user defined codes to different locations on the chart, recording the user defined codes on the chart at their assigned locations, recording the computer readable codes, and associating respective computer readable codes with respective different locations on the chart, so that respective locations represent an address for respective computer readable codes which correspond to the user defined codes of the chart, wherein computer readable codes can be generated by touching the location on the chart of the corresponding user defined codes.

2. A method of generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user, the method comprising displaying or placing a chart onto a touch sensitive surface, touching one or more locations on the chart which correspond to desired user defined code(s) thereby to address the user defined code(s), wherein each of the user defined codes are assigned to predetermined different locations on the chart and the touching of a desired location on the chart gives rise to a signal indicative of the desired location, and producing from a memory a predetermined computer readable code which corresponds to the desired user defined code in response to the signal.

3. An apparatus for generating computer readable codes in response to user defined codes addressable by a user, the apparatus comprising a chart for display or location onto a touch sensitive surface and having the user defined codes recorded at assigned locations thereon, and memory means for recording the computer readable codes, wherein the respective computer readable codes are recordable at different locations within the memory means which correspond to respective assigned locations of the chart, so that when the location of a desired user defined code on the chart is touched, a signal corresponding to that location is generated by the electromagnetic touch sensitive surface and supplied to the memory means which generates the corresponding computer readable code in response thereto.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein registration means is provided for establishing the orientation and location of the chart on the surface with respect to the location of points subsequently identified by the touching.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the registration means is in the form of three locating points positioned on the chart which are sequentially touched, wherein touching of these three points defines a coordinate system used for defining the positions of subsequent points touched on the chart.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the touch sensitive surface is a cathode ray tube onto which the chart is displayed.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the touch sensitive surface is an electromagnetic or pressure sensitive pad, having a pen or stylus associated therewith.

8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, comprising a monitor screen for displaying information associated with the user defined codes and the corresponding computer readable codes.

9. A method according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, or an apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the user defined codes are defined by the number and sequence of touched locations on the chart.

10. A method or apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the user defined codes constitute a description of an item or function in linguistic or diagrammatic form.

11. A method or apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the user defined codes include functional commands for a computer and/or data addresses for retrieving and displaying data from the computer memory.

12. A chart having user defined codes thereon intended for use in a method or apparatus defined by any one of the preceding claims.

13. A method according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A method according to claim 2, substantially as hereinbefore described.

15. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A chart substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.